Hand sweeper



J. T. PEED HAND SWEEPER Dec. 28 1926.

Filed August 6. 1.923

1 1 I. J. 1 1 0.4 5 1 m.

I zz vz'zzfor; (IO/2n T llamas Peed.

Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAND SWEEPER.

Application filed August 6, 1923.

An Object of this invention is to provide a simple. durable device by which dust and dirt can be removed with ease from rugs and from carpeted floors without filling the air with dust, and also from bare, painted or hardwood floors, and by which walks, lawns, and pavements can be swept clean; and by which shavings, leaves and rubbish can be swept away, thus accomplishing by one appliance the work ordinarily requiring various brushes, brooms and rakes.

Other objects are ease of manufacture and assembly, and adaptability to renewals by simple reversals of parts.

According to my invention I loosely secure flatwise together two thick sheet-like bu fl'ers formed of firm, resilient felt strips or .sheets of about five-eighths inch thick, more or less, and extending downwardly and forwardly as free edges, about three and a half inches, more or less to about an inch, more or less, at the ends of the holder or head by which they are held so that the free portions of the buffers are elastic and the longitudinal edges are adapted to ready slight fiexure when at one angle, and also adapted to transmit a greatly increased force at a different angle, and the ends of the head are guarded by the ends of the felt strips.

Another feature of the invention resides in the combination with the two strips of thick felt of a separating slip plate of resil- I ient or rigid material, such as galvanized sheet iron or steel, the front and end edges of which are practically flush with the front and end margins of the head so as to prevent the adjacent portions of the felt sheets from matting together.

The invention is applicable in various lengths or widths of head, and the head is provided with a handle set at an acute angle to the faces of the felt sheets.

Gther objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention in position for use in sweeping a floor; parts being broken away to contract the view and to expose parts that would otherwise be hidden.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the head opened; the felt and the intermediate strips being omitted from the view.

Serial No. 656,013.

Fig. 3 the bolts.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section on line ar Fig. 3, showing the sweeper on a slightly reduced scale.

The head comprises a right angle channel piece forming the front wall 1, andthe top wall or body 2, to which latter the rear wall 3 is hinged by hinges 4, leaving a channel 5, about two inches deep, and one and a half inches between the front and rear walls; which channel is closed at its top by the top wall 2 and is open at its ends and its under edge.

The buffer strips 6, 7, are of thick felt and are of firm fibrous texture, and fit loosely in the channel. so that they may readily yield to various adjustments, either independently or together as they pass over the surface to be swept or brushed. Said buffer sheets or members 6, 7, are separated by a slip plate 8. Bolts 9, 10, extend from front to back through the buffer sheets or members 6, 7, and slip plate 8, and extend through the rear wall 3, and are provided with nuts 11, engaging the rear side of the rear wall, and thereby holding the front and rear channel walls 1 and 3 in fixed relation to each other.

The top or body 2 is provided with a reinforcing boss 12 and socket 13 in which the handle 1% is fixed.

is a cross section through one of The drawings illustrate the head as being made of four pieces of wood marked respectively 1, 2, 3 and 15 fixed together by suitable means as screws or nails 16; but it is understood that the front top and rear walls may be of other material than that stated; as, for instance, of aluminum, and is of such thickness and construction as to insure the requisite strength and lightness.

In practice, the device is moved by the handle much as a sweeping, scrubbing, or wall brush having a long handle and is used either to push or draw the sweepings from or toward the user.

The buffer plate sheets or members 6, 7, adjust themselves in the head so as to fit the surface over which they pass, and not only clean the surface of dust and fine particles, but also carry along heavier materials, shavings, leaves, sticks and other rubbish which may be in the way.

The buffers are made with square corners 17 extending along their edges so that they readily dig into the nap of rugs and carpets,

Ill)

and in case such square corners become rounded by wear, the buffer plates may be reversed flatwise, thus bringing the unworn edges to the outside; and if the outer edges become worn, the buffer plates may be reversed edgewise, bringing unused corners into play; and if again worn may be then reversed fiatwise, thus afiording four renewals of the buffer edge.

In case the buffers become seriously worn, they may be replaced with new.

By using the device only on dry surfaces,

the work of sweeping walls, rugs, carpets, floors, pavements, walks, yards and lawns may be done successively. It is understood that the device may be used for scrubbing if so desired.

As shown in F igs; 2 and 4 the pair of fibrous strips 6, 7 are provided with openings 18 through which the bolts 9, 10 are extended; and these openings can be slots so that the strips can be adjusted sidewise of the body; and it is understood that when the strips are to be turned over additional slits or openings will be cut in the strips to fit over the bolts 9, 10; it being a very simple matter to slit the felt strips at the desired place.

By providing the hand sweeper with a pair of fibrous strips or felt buffer strips 6, 7 such strips adjust themselves so that the corners of the strips will present a strip or surface.

I claim:

1. A hand sweeper con'iprising an elongated back, a depending side member rigidly secured to said back, and an opposed side nien'iber hingeu to said back, a pair of felt stri as extending into the space between said side members, a metal plate interposed between said felt strips, and bolts extending through said side members, said strips and said plate.

2. A hand sweeper comprising an elongated back, a depending side member rigidly secured to said back and an opposed side member hinged to said back, felt strips extending into the space between said side members, bolts extending through said side members and said strips and a reinforcing )oss provided with a socket fixed to the body and a handle fixed in said socket.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 31st day of July, 1923.

JOHN THOMAS PEED. 

